While this does not provide the same waterproofing as a Gore-Tex jacket, it is lighter than Gore-Tex and easily stowable. Not just yet. But the way pockets on gear are designed havent caught up to the way phones are designed. Priced at $75 and often available for a discount at Amazon, the Columbia Watertight II is a leading budget rain jacket. All of the jackets in our review have fully-lined pockets with the exception of the Marmot PreCip Eco, which features mesh-lined pockets. Hyper-fancy, high-performance rain jackets can cost close to a months rent, but we think the men's and women's REI Co-op XeroDry GTX offers the performance at about half the price of similar jackets. Seriously, a nod to the fashion conscious. Most notably, we found the fit of the Rainier to be very large (depending on how you plan to layer underneath, it may be best to go down a full size). What has it got in its pocketses?! Performance Treeline writer Tiffany Searsdodd wearing the Marmot Minimalist rain jacket (also shown is the Mountain Hardwear) during a storm on the John Muir Trail. The Marmot Precip rain jacket features a brim along its hood. 100% ripstop nylon: Like so many other waterproof jackets, the Marmot Precip is made of 100% ripstop nylon. Photo by Robert Curzon. In cool to cold weather, you want the breathability afforded by a 3-layer jacket (see more below in our primer on layers). Why do we have The North Face Venture 2 ranked here? We test. We prefer the toggle style for adjusting the back of the hood over a rip-and-stick Velcro tab for its improved performance. Photo by Robert Curzon. Hand pockets are a convenient place to warm your hands up when rain mittens are out of the question. REIs in-house line of rain shells continues to impress us when it comes to bang for your buck, and the popular Rainier is no exception. When comparing the Marmot vs Patagonia rain jacket models, the fit is the same. We expect every pocket (at least on the outside) to be a zippered pocket so rain cant find its way in. Marmot Minimalist Jacket. Managing rain is difficult when running since running produces a lot of body heat. Constant downpours in the forecast for the seven days of your trip? Photo by Robert Curzon. We recommend sleeves that are slightly longer than youd try to get for a normal shirt, to give some weather protection to your hands. Photo by Jill Duncan. But it serves the same purpose as Layer 3: protecting that layer-2 membrane from oil, dirt, and other junk. One of the most sought-after features in a waterproof rain jacket is breathability: the ability for perspiration and other moisture to exit the jacket without outside water coming in. But it's $400 MSRPwell above our price limit for this piece. Click to reveal Marmot gave the PreCip a light revamp fairly recently. The big news is the stretchy 2.5-layer construction, which offers greater comfort than a standard rain jacket like the REI Rainier above. Treeline editor Naomi Hudetz tested the Patagonia Torrentshell on the 500-mile long Blue Mountains Trail thru-hike. The Patagonia Torrentshell is super packable . From months of daily drizzle to heavy downpour in the mountains, were acutely aware of the benefits of a quality waterproof and breathable shell. The Marmot Minimalist jacket caught my eye late last year. Finally, we've had consistent issues with the jacket wetting out fairly quickly in heavy rainfall (it's also slow to dry). It is a great option for hikers and backpackers seeking a lightweight balance of features and minimalist design. The North Face says the lab tests they commissioned from UL, an independent lab, rates it at 100% waterproof and included dumping 200 gallons of water per hour on the material. The OR Helium, in contrast, uses a 30 denier to achieve a jacket of the same weight (but again, no pockets or pit zips). Despite the Gore Tex Paclite's superior breathability, that's a feature we still want. Finally, it doesnt excel for true performance usethe lining is prone to getting slippery and clammy and there are no pit zips to dump heat. The DWRs job is to keep Layer 1 from getting saturated with water. All that water in the jackets fabric makes the fabric colder, which can make you feel like youre getting wet. Category: Hiking/performanceWeight: 13.2 oz.Waterproofing: 2.5-layer Pertex ShieldWhat we like: Hardwearing Pertex Shield and weather-resistant zippers at a low price point.What we dont: No chest pocket; left-hand zipper takes some getting used to. (And, if youre looking for a sale, our links reflect hours of searching for the best deals on our recommended picks and prices that include shipping and returns.). 22 February 2021 by nadia. The North Face states that the Futurelight uses their premium waterproof-breathable technology, and we believe it. And the upside to Gore Infinium is excellent breathability for the weight, which makes the Versatile a great option for long days of hiking (its no coincidence that its a part of Montbells thru-hiking collection). It is one the easiest ways to get outdoors for people of all experience levels, and simply put, any time spent on the trail has a way of soothing the Arcteryxs new Beta Jacket slots into the brands expansive collection as a premium hiking shell. Category: Daily use/hikingWeight: 11.6 oz.Waterproofing: 2.5L DryVentWhat we like: Another versatile rain jacket for under $100.What we dont: Falls a little short in hood design and zipper quality. 217.160.129.9 Its a minor quibble, but if youre looking for easy packability, this one might not be for you. At just 6.3 ounces for the heavier mens medium, its essentially half the weight of each of our other winners. You might also like: The Best Rain Jackets Under $50 Material and Other Details. Waterproofing: 3L H2No Performance Standard What we like: 3-layer performance, quality materials, and good looks at an excellent price. Another thing to keep in mind is in our testing, sizing ran big and sleeves ran long (though they come with adjustable cuffs). It may be tempting to go with the super-budget ultralight rain jacket: men's and women's Frogg Toggs rain gear. The REI XeroDry GTX comes in at 28,000+ mm and is rated for multiple days of rain. First off, the relatively thin, 30-denier shell wont withstand wear and tear as well as jackets like the Torrentshell (50D) or Beta LT (40D) above. The hood keeps your face shielded better . Category: Hiking/performanceWeight: 10.6 oz.Waterproofing: 3L Gore-TexWhat we like: Premium weather protection alongside a casual feature set.What we dont: Relatively thin, no pit zips or helmet-compatible hood. Category: Hiking/daily useWeight: 12.5 oz.Waterproofing: 2L Gore-Tex PacliteWhat we like: Great price for a Gore-Tex shell.What we dont: Step down in material quality from OR Foray above. Patagonia Calcite Jacket - Weight and Packability. The men's and women's Black Diamond Stormline Stretch is our winner for Best Stretchy Rain Jacket. Thats why ventilation and breathability are clutch when it comes to a rain jackets performance. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission, without costing you an extra cent. For washing, its always best to start by checking the label on your jacket as the specific instructions will vary. On the outside of Layer 1 is a Durable Water Repellent coating (DWR)literally water repellent that is durable, so you dont have to reapply it every time you go outand unless youve got an ultralight jacket made directly of waterproof fabric, youve got durable water repellent on the shell. So on a warm day, your jacket has a harder time breathing, aka moving water vapor. Price - $149. The PreCip is their leading entry-level offering thats reached iconic status among hikers, backpackers, and everyday wearers. Patagonia jacket is a high-performance insulated jacket that is not only comfortable to wear but is also protective of both you and the environment.. That half-layer isnt quite as good as a full-out third layer at protecting your second layer membrane. Weight: 13.9 oz (mens), 12.5 oz (womens), What we liked: 3-layer waterproof jacket for a reasonable price, eco-friendly, lifetime warranty, well-featured with pockets, pit zips, versatility for town and trail, What we didn't like: heavier than many rain jackets. The Arc'teryx Norvan SL was even lighter at 4.4 oz, but has been discontinued. REI Rainier - Women's. $100. The hood on the womens Outdoor Research Helium 2. The newest version has a 3L construction, which provides a step up from the previous 2L and 2.5L models . $59 - $179 (1) Patagonia PowSlayer Jacket Snowsport Jacket / Waterproof $346 - $699 (1) Rab Phantom Waterproof Pull-On . Offering more protection than a rain jacket but a step below a full-on winter hardshell, the light and packable Beta hits a sweet spot for three-season Patagonias Torrentshell 3L rain jacket is about as popular and well liked as it gets in the outdoor apparel space. Price does increase with these upgrades, although daily usability is nearly on par with the hiking/daily use category above. It balances frontcountry and backcountry usefulness. 7.0. . The 3L design has also improved the jacket's breathability compared to previous . Theres also an updated fit, although the jacket still has a regular cut thats roomy enough for wearing a lightweight puffy underneath. In addition, theyve covered the basics for mixed daily wear and hiking uses with a reasonable 11.6-ounce weight, stuff pocket, and layering-friendly fit. After taking into account 14 professional reviews, our list included 80 different rain jackets, as opposed to the 20-or-so models we usually see. For a similar concept but with a more durable, around-town-friendly build, check out TNFs Resolve 2Read in-depth reviewSee the Men's The North Face Venture 2 See the Women's The North Face Venture 2. The Patagonia Torrentshell jacket's 3-layer construction with 50-denier ECONYL recycled nylon ripstop is sturdy and held up well through the testing process. To create a waterproof rain jacket that resists moisture from entering yet also lets sweat and hot air vent out requires a combination of fabric layers. Many of the jackets in our review pack down into one of their pockets-and each of them can stow down into their hoods, as shown in this video from Wilderness Supply. The single cinch does mean if you really have to tighten the jacket, it will pull a bit to one side, but its often negligible and worth the weight savings. And while we didnt see any issues about ventilation, it doesn't have pit zips either. These are made from a special spandex & nylon fabric that features a 4-way stretch, and, as such, provides wearers with increased freedom of movement. With rain jackets, most reviews we saw generally defaulted to mens models and presumed that the womens models of the same jacket were essentially the same. When your jacket advertises it has Gore-Tex or eVent, its always in Layer 2. The rain jackets in our review range from $100 to $300, with three out of four at or below $160. In addition, you miss out on a chest pocket, and the shell isnt a weight or packed size leader. But weve also enjoyed the greater level of comfort and less crinkly feel for daily wear. Photo by Liz Thomas. Stuffing the jacket into the chest pocket causes the hoods bill to warpand without tending to the bill as you stow it, that warp can get water in your eyes. For performance use, the benefits are obvious: While climbing, hiking, or other activities where youre moving your arms a lot, a stretchy jacket is less restrictive. Our favorite from their collection is the Downpour Plus 2.0, which offers a strong dose of performance at a very reasonable price point. You also get useful backcountry features like pit zips and a stuff pocket, and its adjustable hood provides full coverage in a rainstorm. Other factors like seam taping play a major role in waterproofness, so the number doesnt truly determine how dry you will stay in a downpour. Most rain jackets fold down into their zippered hand warming pocket. Weve got more to say on that than can fit in this space, so see our full section below. Category: Hiking/daily useWeight: 11.3 oz.Waterproofing: 2.5L BD.dryWhat we like: Stretchy, loaded with features, and affordable.What we dont: Large fit doesnt match its performance intent. . Sport. Typically done with a cord and toggle, theyre very user-friendly. A longtime ultralight favorite, Outdoor Researchs Helium Rain Jacket, was overhauled a few seasons back. For years, the formula has stayed largely the same: proven 2.5-layer waterproof construction that does well in light to moderate conditions, seam taping, and reasonable weight. do magnetic sheets stick to each other; rent formal dress for wedding; bloomfield hotel rates Comparison in pocket placement and torso length between the Patagonia Torrentshell 2019 (left) and Torrentshell 3L (right). Rain jacket layer technology works by using thermal gradients to move warm moisture vapor from inside your jacket to cooler air outside your jacket. It is lightweight, but that does not stop the jacket from performing well. REI.COM: Up to 40% Off Clearance REI Co-op Brand Winter Clothing.Shop and Save! Elastic cuffs arent ideal: when the rain runs down your arms, it gets wicked directly onto your hands, regardless of the length of your sleeves. Its still a developing technology and key brands like Patagonia havent made the full switch yet (for more, heres Patagonias breakdown of the process), but PFC-free options are becoming more prevalent on the market.